In the end, if the student wants Ga Tech, cancelling and not getting a decision or getting a rejection would be irrelevant as the decision has been made.
Maybe the OP will get rejected by NU - that will save them second guessing.
Sometimes good can come from the not so good.
From a financial perspective itâs a no brainer.
Look at the ISyE paths. Look at the requirements. Itâs an excellent program and prepares you for many different career paths. Itâs not for the math weary. S20 just took his last exam today. It can be a grind. Especially with senior design.
Consulting wasnât high on his list but he had interviews or was offered interviews with several of the consulting companies including McKinsey. Heâs going a different route. Itâs very competitive at that level. Very few spots.
No bad choice here. That said, very different majors. Visit the campuses to see if theyâre a fit. Good luck.
I like both Econ and ISyE, but I felt that those were the majors at Northwestern and GT, respectively, that would give me the best shot at getting into management consulting. Iâm actually struggling in AP Micro right now though, with a B-, so this has partially contributed to my late doubts. Northwestern does let you change major though, as would GT.
If I decide to stick with GT, I would be okay with cancelling Northwestern if thatâs my only choice to get out of ED. I am still leaning Northwestern though because of the prestige and I feel that it would give me a better chance of getting into management consulting. However, Iâve been speaking to many GT alum lately who are giving me stories of ISyE grads who got great consulting jobs.
Thank you for the feedback. I think you may be right and that ultimately, whatever happens is what was meant to be. Just mainly wanted to see if anyone strongly would suggest I try to exit the contract.
If your doubts are strong enough exit the contract.
Georgia Tech is a great school. You have two great choices.
Another thing to consider is Have you spent anytime in Chicago? Evanston is freezing most of the school year. Lived there for 5 years. Loved the town and access to Chicago but itâs really cold on the lake in winter.
Both are great schools. I doubt that prestige is different between the two schools. Employers are very aware of the ISyE program. An Ivy like Wharton would be different but thatâs not the comparison.
Pick the best school and major for you. Not perceived prestige.
This is really a crazy discussion. Northwestern is over $90,000 per year, $73,000 MORE than what youâll pay at GT. Invest the difference over a 40 year career and at retirement age youâd have $4.5M if you never worked a day in your life. Thatâs after inflation! Why is this even a choice?!? 
Bingo!!!
But maybe their last name is Bezos? Or Buffett?
Perhaps this is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars - * I have been obsessed with Northwestern for a while and I frequently listen to the Daily Northwestern Podcast and Digital Diaries.
But itâs not - he still can do so!!
I like how you quantify the decision. At 18, it could be hard to see the forest through the trees.
InSyE is VERY DIFFERENT from Econ though. Thereâs a serious core of math&physics classes that are really intense+a prescribed sequence with few electives, and in order to do okay you need a modicum of interest in the field since youâll devote 8 semesters to it - you need to like the subject for itself, not for maybe a consulting job.
Finally: if you donât get a consulting job, youâll work as an engineer - does that appeal to you?
Economics is an entirely different subject, where you can âdoseâ the amount of math and organize your studies around points of interest. If you donât get a consulting job, youâll likely work in the finance dept of a company: does that appeal to you?
Both universities are prestigious so really dig into what it means to major in fields that are so different.
The great thing about the ISyE program is the flexibility. The odds are you wonât work as an engineer. Offers for grads are all over the place. Son is still up in the air between supply chain and analytics/ML.
Consulting is also an option. Some company talked to him about financial forensics. I thought it sounded interesting but not for him. Of course, you could do engineering if you like.
I agree that Econ and ISyE are very differentâŠbut at both schools (and OP doesnât yet have the âchoiceâ to attend NU) students can easily switch between these majors.
Others have already noted the real differences in those two areas of study. Since you mentioned finances, I would consider the costs, even though you say it does not matter. Northwesternâs Estimated Cost Of Attendance is $95,000 for 24-25 school year, so if you graduate in 4 years - more than half a million. Invested conservatively, including a maxed-out ROTH for example, that amount should not be discarded, especially if you are considering finance. If you really think Northwestern is worth that investment over engineering at GA Tech, you have already answered this question.
I wouldnât want to hire a consultant that would ignore the economics of the choice. 
I heard that Northwestern already has a Bezos 
Hey everyone. Got deferred just now. Seems like I am Tech bound!
Congratulations! 
Thatâs a huge load off your mind. Do you think youâll keep your application in for the RD round?
I realize thatâs disappointing, but the upside is that it solved your dilemma: your ED contract is no longer a concern, and so if you get accepted RD you can make an informed choice between two excellent schools.
I am keeping it and I will consider if accepted, but as of now I am also very content with GT. Thank you all for your advice! 
